What Is GATE Exam? All About GATE Exam
Summary: The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, commonly known as GATE, is a prominent national-level examination.
GATE evaluates participants’ deep and comprehensive understanding of various undergraduate subjects. These subjects include engineering, technology, architecture, science, commerce, arts, and humanities.
GATE 2025 will be a computer-based test (CBT) organized by the Indian Institutes of Technology Roorkee. Keep reading the blog to get a thorough understanding of GATE exam.
Get GATE Exam Prepared with Free GATE Mock Tests
GATE 2025 Exam: Important Dates
| Events | Days | Dates |
| Opening Date of GATE Online Application Processing System (GOAPS) | Wednesday | 28th August 2025 |
| Closing Date of REGULAR online registration/ application process (Without Late Fee) | Thursday | 26th September 2025 |
| Closing Date of EXTENDED online registration/ application process (With Late Fee) | Monday | 7th October 2025 |
| GATE 2025 Examinations | Saturday
Sunday Saturday Sunday |
1st February 2025
2nd February 2025 15th February 2025 16th February 2025 |
GATE Exam: Valid GATE Score can be used to seek admission
You can pursue Master’s programs and direct Doctoral programs in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Science, Commerce, Arts, and Humanities.
Additionally, you can enroll in Doctoral programs in relevant branches of Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Science, Commerce, Arts, and Humanities at institutions supported by the Ministry of Education and other Government agencies.
Read More: GATE 2025 Important Dates: Eligibility Criteria, Registration process, official website
GATE Full Form: Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering
What is GATE Exam?: Eligibility Criteria
Students in their 3rd year or higher of any undergraduate degree program or those who have completed a government-approved degree in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Science, Commerce, Arts, or Humanities are eligible to appear for the GATE 2025 exam.
| Degree / Program | Qualifying Degree / Examination | Description of Eligible Candidates |
| B.E. / B.Tech. / B. Pharm. | Bachelor’s degree in Engineering / Technology (4 years after 10+2 or 3 years after B.Sc. / Diploma in Engineering / Technology) | Currently in the 3rd year or higher or already completed |
| B. Arch. | Bachelor’s degree of Architecture (5-year course) / Naval Architecture (4-year course) / Planning (4-year course) | Currently in the 3rd year or higher or already completed |
| B.Sc. (Research) / B.S. | Bachelor’s degree in Science (Post-Diploma / 4 years after 10+2) | Currently in the 3rd year or higher or already completed |
| Pharm. D.(after 10+2) | 6 years degree program, consisting of internship or residency training, from third year onwards | Currently in the 3rd/ 4th/ 5th/ 6th year or already completed |
| M.B.B.S. / B.D.S. / B.V.Sc. | Degree holders of M.B.B.S. / B.D.S. / B.V.Sc and those who are in the 5th/ 6th/ 7th semester or higher semester of such programme. | 5th/ 6th/ 7th or higher semester or already completed |
| M. Sc. / M.A. / MCA or equivalent | Master’s degree in any branch of Arts / Science / Mathematics / Statistics / Computer Applications or equivalent | Currently in the first year or higher or already Completed |
| Int. M.E. / M.Tech.(Post-B.Sc.) | Post-B.Sc Integrated Master’s degree programs in Engineering / Technology (4-year program) | Currently in the 1st/ 2nd/ 3rd/ 4th year or already completed |
| Int. M.E. / M.Tech. / M.Pharm or Dual Degree (after Diploma or 10+2) | Integrated Master’s degree program or Dual Degree program in Engineering / Technology (5-year program) | Currently in the 3rd/ 4th/ 5th year or already completed |
| B.Sc. / B.A. / B.Com. | Bachelor degree in any branch of Science / Arts / Commerce (3 year program) | Currently in the 3rd year or already completed |
| Int. M.Sc. / Int. B.S. / M.S. | Integrated M.Sc. or 5-year integrated B.S.- M.S. program | Currently in the 3rd year or higher or already completed |
| Professional Society Examinations
(equivalent to B.E. / B.Tech. / B.Arch.) |
B.E. / B.Tech. / B.Arch. equivalent examinations of Professional Societies recognized by MoE / UPSC / AICTE (e.g. AMIE by the Institution of Engineers-India, AMICE by the Institute of Civil Engineers-India and so on) | Completed Section A or equivalent of such professional courses |
| B.Sc. (Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry) | 4-years program | Currently in the 3rd/ 4th year or already completed |
Students who are enrolled with professional bodies and institutions as per MHRD OM (No. 11-15/2011-AR (TS.II)) with permanent recognition until May 31, 2013, are recognized. For more details, please review circular No. 13/56/PC/ODL-Mode/AICTE/2020, dated November 23, 2020.
GATE Exam 2025: Fees
For GATE Exam 2025, It is important for candidates to be aware that once the application fee is paid, it is neither refundable nor transferrable. The fee can be paid through various payment gateways, including UPI, net banking, debit cards, credit cards, and E-wallets.
| Category | Regular Period | During the Extended Period |
| Female/SC/ST/PwD candidates
(Per test paper) |
₹ 900 | ₹ 1400 |
| All other candidates, including foreign nationals (Per test paper) | ₹ 1800 | ₹ 2300 |
GATE Exam: Syllabus
The GATE Syllabus 2025 for all 30 subjects has been released on the official website. Aspiring candidates can review the important topics and chapters covered in the GATE syllabus 2025. It is crucial for candidates to thoroughly study the complete GATE exam syllabus 2025 to achieve good marks in the GATE examination.
Read More: GATE Marking Scheme 2025: Subject Wise Paper Pattern
GATE Syllabus For Civil Engineering
GATE Mock Test
GATE Exam: Marking Scheme in Detail:
| Paper Codee | General Aptitude (GA) Marks | Compulsory Section | Subject Marks | Total Marks | Total Time (Minutes) |
| AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF; The subjects covered in these exams include topics on Engineering Mathematics, allocating 13 marks to paper-specific questions. | 15 | – | 85 | 100 | 180 |
| CY, DA, EY, MA, PH, ST | 15 | – | 85 | 100 | 180 |
| AR [Section A is mandatory for everyone; applicants must choose between Section B1 or Section B2 when taking the exam. Option B1 is for Architecture, and option B2 is for Planning.] | 15 | 60 | 25 | 100 | 180 |
| GE [Part A is Common and Compulsory for all; Part B1 or B2 can be selected during the Exam. B1 – Surveying and Mapping or B2 -Image Processing and Analysis.] | 15 | 55 | 30 | 100 | 180 |
| GG [Part A is Common and Compulsory for all; Part B can either be Geology (B1) or Geophysics (B2) — which must be chosen at the time of Application.] | 15 | 25 | 60 | 100 | 180 |
| XE [Section A (Engineering Mathematics) is Common and Compulsory for all; Applicants must select any TWO additional Sections during the Exam] | 15 | 15 | 2 x 35 | 100 | 180 |
| XH [Section B1 (Reasoning and Comprehension) is Common and Compulsory for all; Applicants must select any ONE additional Section at the time of Application] | 15 | 25 | 60 | 100 | 180 |
| XL [Section P (Chemistry) is Common and Compulsory for all; Applicants must select any TWO additional Sections during the Exam] | 15 | 25 | 2 x 30 | 100 | 180 |
PwD candidates with a disability benchmark greater than 40% are eligible for one hour of extra time. Candidates with a disability below 40% who have difficulty writing can also get extra time if they provide a required certificate: Appendix-I of the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
GATE Exam: Recruitment
There are several Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) have been using the GATE score to recruit the right candidates. Here are a few of such PSUs listed down below:
– Airports Authority of India (AAI)
– Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)
– Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)
– Coal India Limited (CIL)
– Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS)
– Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited (CVPPL)
– Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC)
– Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL)
– Engineers India Limited (EIL)
– Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL)
– Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
– Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)
– Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL)
– National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO)
– National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
– NLC India Limited (NLCIL)
– National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC)
– Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)
– National Thermal Power Corporation(NTPC), Odisha Power Generation Corporation Limited (OPGC), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Power Grid Corporation of India (POWERGRID), Power System Operation Corporation Limited (POSOCO), Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), etc.
